Why did certain players wear strange shirt numbers?

[nirvaanfc]

He got mad that he had to give up his #9 to Ronaldo, so he figured he'd take 18 with a plus sign so he has technically be "#9" [1+8=9].

Francesco Coco used to wear #77 at Milan and Inter.

Cristiano Lupatelli, ex-goalkeeper of Chievo and Roma, and now goalkeeper of Parma, wore the number 10 at Chievo [strange having your goalkeeper be the #10]....

I think Batistuta wore 1+8 also, wehn Montella refused to hand over the number 9 shirt, maybe vice versa.

Francesco Coco wears 77 for birthyear, other examples of such include Nicola Ventola 79, Valon Behrami 85 and Nirvaan Dhanrajh 85 (i loved the idea, so that my number too).

As for GK with number 10 i also did that, was playing outside on a team and long before Rooney with his Joga Bonito business, got mad beacue team was playing crap so figured it would be more in the goal, chased out keeper and played in there with the number 10, was a blast!

[Cassano]

I think Batistuta wore 1+8 also, wehn Montella refused to hand over the number 9 shirt, maybe vice versa.



Bati-gol didn't actually put a plus sign on his jersey though, he just wore 18 because 1+8= 9. I did the same thing, as when I joined my current team my old number 10 was taken, so I took 19 because 1+9=10.

[unclesox]

Osvaldo(Ossie) Ardiles wore #1 when he was a defensive midfielder.
asf should correct me. I think Argentina used alphabetic order for numbering. Maradona was the exceptional.
This would be the 1982 World Cup, right?

ARGENTINA SQUAD - ESPANA82

1 Osvaldo Ardiles
2 Hector Baley
3 Juan Barbas
4 Daniel Bertoni
5 Gabriel Calderon
6 Ramon Diaz
7 Ubaldo Fillol
8 Luis Galvan
9 Americo Gallego
10 Diego Maradona
11 Mario Kempes
12 Patricio Hernandez
13 Julio Olarticoechea
14 Jorge Olguin
15 Daniel Passarella
16 Nery Pumpido
17 Santiago Santamaria
18 Alberto Tarantini
19 Enzo Trossero
20 Jorge Valdano
21 Jose Valencia
22 Jose van Tuyne

Ardiles wore the number 2 shirt in 1978.

[Auriaprottu]

Here players are allowed to wear whatever number they want

Robert Parrish: http://halloffamememorabilia.com/images/products/MM-08PHPAR660med.jpg
The Worm (Dennis Rodman): http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Field/5842/rodman/rodman-three.jpg
Randy Moss: http://www.edgeofsports.com/2005-01-10-112/randt



Can't address the NBA, but in the NFL, players are limited to certain numbers based on the position they play, so you're only half right. This is a recent (last 25 years or so) rule change.

IIRC,
quarterbacks can use only numbers 1 - 19
wide receivers and tight ends: 80-89
tailbacks, fullbacks and secondary: 20-49
offensive and defensive linemen and linebackers: 50-79, 90-99
Not sure about punters and placekickers, but I think they're 1-19, 20-49.

[unclesox]

Can't address the NBA, but in the NFL, players are limited to certain numbers based on the position they play, so you're only half right. This is a recent (last 25 years or so) rule change.

IIRC,
quarterbacks can use only numbers 1 - 19
wide receivers and tight ends: 80-89
tailbacks, fullbacks and secondary: 20-49
offensive and defensive linemen and linebackers: 50-79, 90-99
Not sure about punters and placekickers, but I think they're 1-19, 20-49.Instituted prior to the 1973 season, to be exact. ;)

From NFL.com:

http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/1971-1980
A jersey numbering system was adopted, April 5:
1-19 for quarterbacks and specialists,
20-49 for running backs and defensive backs,
50-59 for centers and linebackers,
60-79 for defensive linemen and interior offensive linemen other than centers,
80-89 for wide receivers and tight ends.
Players who had been in the NFL in 1972 could continue to use old numbers.


Your listing is more update as uniform numbers in the 90s began sometime in the 1980s.

[Excape Goat]

The Worm (Dennis Rodman): http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Field/5842/rodman/rodman-three.jpg



This is also a 9+1 = 10 shirt. Rodman was #10 with Detriot or San Antonio. He switched to 91 because the number was taken or reired I forgot.

[Almogavar92]

I remember when an Italian player (was it Buffon or Coco) tried to wear 77, there was a lot of opposition to wearing that number because it was somehow related or tied to fascism. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Leto]

I remember when an Italian player (was it Buffon or Coco) tried to wear 77, there was a lot of opposition to wearing that number because it was somehow related or tied to fascism. Correct me if I'm wrong.

It was Buffon wearing #88 (the controversy being that 88 -> HH -> Heil Hitler).

[PsychedelicCeltic]

It was Buffon wearing #88 (the controversy being that 88 -> HH -> Heil Hitler).
What was Buffon's explaination?

Those unfamiliar with neofascists probably think the concept is ludicrous, but they are huge fans of number code.

Combat 18 - 18 = AH = Adolf Hitler

[gaijin]

Yes, Lucarelli. I think he chose 99 because number 9 was taken when he joined.



You're not allowed to wear 0 or 00 according to FIFA regulations.

Didn't Hitcham Zerouali (RIP :() wear no 0 when he was at Aberdeen because of his nickname 'zero'?

[Cassano]

Didn't Hitcham Zerouali (RIP :() wear no 0 when he was at Aberdeen because of his nickname 'zero'?

From wikipedia:

Hicham Zerouali was allowed to wear the number 0 for Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen F.C. after the fans nicknamed him "Zero".

That was probably a special SPL exception...

[TOTC]

No. 58 in Mexico is the year (1858) of Mexico's independence from Spain, I thought.

And the No. 100 player from Chivas of Guadalajara can wear that number because of the Mexican League rules. If he plays in a FIFA-sanctioned competition (Libertadores, World Club), he can't go to three digits.

Jaime Moreno of DC United wears No. 99 because No. 9 was his original number when before being traded to New York. When he came back to United, Freddy Adu had been given the 9 shirt, and the entire league marketing campaign was built around that number, so Moreno went to 99.

It's just as well. Moreno has almost 99 goals right now in MLS play, and Freddy is still hovering around 9 ...

[Excape Goat]

What was Buffon's explaination?



The number 88 is made of four circles, which represent the Italian expression: The strong man has four balls.

[Dr. Wankler]

Instituted prior to the 1973 season, to be exact. ;)

From NFL.com:

http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/1971-1980
A jersey numbering system was adopted, April 5:
1-19 for quarterbacks and specialists,
20-49 for running backs and defensive backs,
50-59 for centers and linebackers,
60-79 for defensive linemen and interior offensive linemen other than centers,
80-89 for wide receivers and tight ends.
Players who had been in the NFL in 1972 could continue to use old numbers.


Your listing is more update as uniform numbers in the 90s began sometime in the 1980s.


While we're talking about weird numbering systems, non-Americans might not know that in high school and college basketball, no number higher than 5 can appear on any players shirt, whether it's the first or second digit. So numbers like 11, 44, and 55 are all legal, but numbers like 16, 61, or 56 are not legal. It has something to do with making it easier on the referee to tell the scorer who is charged with the foul. The NBA has no such rule.

I always thought that numbers in soccer originally had something to do with positions, so 1 would be the keeper, 2 would be a defender, etc., up until the number 10 shirt as the center forward and the 11 shirt as a winger. Substitute numbers would start at 12. Thankfully, it wasn't like that when I got to college, otherwise my shirt number would look like that of a guy entering his first marathon.

[TOTC]

I always thought that numbers in soccer originally had something to do with positions, so 1 would be the keeper, 2 would be a defender, etc., up until the number 10 shirt as the center forward and the 11 shirt as a winger. Substitute numbers would start at 12.

True. But there are very few football teams which will dress up their first XI in the traditional manner.

[TOTC]

It has something to do with making it easier on the referee to tell the scorer who is charged with the foul.

That's because of factors such as crowd noise and having students running the scorer's table. NBA crowds (public-address systems and Spike Lee notwithstanding) are docile.

[celito]

I always thought that numbers in soccer originally had something to do with positions, so 1 would be the keeper, 2 would be a defender, etc., up until the number 10 shirt as the center forward and the 11 shirt as a winger. Substitute numbers would start at 12. Thankfully, it wasn't like that when I got to college, otherwise my shirt number would look like that of a guy entering his first marathon.

In Brazil (traditionally):
1- Goalie
2- Right Back
3-4 - Center Defender
6- Left Back
5 and 8 - Central D. Midfield
10 - Central Creative Midfielder
7 and 11 - Wingers/Attacking Midfielder
9 - Striker

[West 'am 'till I die]

asf should correct me. I think Argentina used alphabetic order for numbering. Maradona was the exceptional.

Zamorana's shirt is a collector item.

Beckham's reason for 23?????


Apparently outta respect for Michael Jordan

[tomas_brolin]

This is also a 9+1 = 10 shirt. Rodman was #10 with Detriot or San Antonio. He switched to 91 because the number was taken or reired I forgot.
#10 is bob love's number and it got retired...

and when rodman went to the lakers. he had 73.. b/c of carmen electra's bday (they were married at the time) and 7+3= 10

[guado]

No. 58 in Mexico is the year (1858) of Mexico's independence from Spain, I thought.

And the No. 100 player from Chivas of Guadalajara can wear that number because of the Mexican League rules. If he plays in a FIFA-sanctioned competition (Libertadores, World Club), he can't go to three digits.



the dates associated with mexican independence are 1810 and 1821.

also, bofo, this guy , no. 100
http://www.neowin.net/forum/uploads/post-21550-1118847825.jpg
has worn 7 and 23 in libertadores.